Addressing-machine.



A. B. LYLE. ADDRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 7. I9I7.

Paten'Ied Feb. 5,1918.

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A. B. LYLE. ADDRESS'NG MACHINE. APPLICATION man SEPT- 1. m1.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

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A. B. LYLE.

ADDRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION Hm) SEPT- 7. I91].

l u QMHHHh-HRPM A. B. LYLE ADDRESSING'MACHINL W APPLICATION flLED SEPT-7, 19H. 1:: \1 H M Patented Feb. 5,1918.

"in r ALEXANDER 13. LYLE, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOB, TO STICKNEY z MONTAGUE, OF CHATTANOGGA, TENNESSEE.

ADDRESSING-MACHINE.

Application filed September 7, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER B. LYLE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, have invented cer: tain new anduseful Improvements in Addressing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to hand operated ad: dressing machines employing individual printing plates which are fed by a hand op erated mechanism from a hopper to the impression point and thence discharged, the plates being fed along a straight runway and in a direction transverse to the plane of pivotal movement of the impression arm.

The invention consists in the features and construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention, Fig. 1 is a side view.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the 11121 chine,

Fig. 3 is a view looking from the left of Fi g. 1, showing the plate receiving pocket or receptacle,

Fig. 4, is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a view of one of the individual. printing plates, I

'Fig. 6 is a view of the supplemental printing member. Fig. 7 shows a supplemental impression head, Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line aa Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view across the plate runway.

In these drawings 1 indicates a table or frame having ears 2 extending up therefrom at its rear side, in which are fixed pins 8, upon which the impression arm or frame is mounted. This impression arm may assume various forms but in the particular construction shown it is in the form of an open frame 1, having ears 5 pivotally mounted on the pins 3, the said frame carrying the impression head 6 near its free end.

The printing plates are stored in a hopper 8, preferably arranged at the right hand side of the machine, said hopper being supported on the table, and a straight runway indicated at 9 leads from this hopper to the impl es sion point beneath the impression head and thence to a receiver 9 in which the plates are deposited, after being used at the mpression point and after being moved by the plate Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 191%.

Serial No. 190,139.

feeder from said impression point. This 7 plate feeder consists of a reciprocating member 10, having a plurality of dogs thereon, pivotally mounted to engage the plate. The plate feedmoves along the runway and takes the plates and moves them step by step to the impression pointand thence to the receiver 9. The dogs engage one of the depressed margins of the printing plates, the runway being so formed that this depressed margin is positioned in range of the dogs. The printing plates may be of different forms but in the particular construction shown these plates are of the Montague type, which are of elongated form having their side margins depressed and turned or rolled upon themselves and the runway is formed to take the plates of this character when such is used. An inking ribbon 11 is employed which extends longitudinally along the runway so as to lie above the printing plates, the end of the said ribbon being turned directly back at 12 to pass beneath the upper surface or top of the table, the said rearwardly extending ends or portions of the inking ribbon being wound upon spools 13, 14-, arranged at the rear of the table and below the top thereof. These spools are on a shaft 15 mounted in bearings 16 below the top of the table and the shaft is operated step by step through a ratchet 17 mounted thereon. and a pawl 18 which is pivotally mounted to a downward eXtension 19 of the impression arm or frame. A spring 20 con nected with this extension and to a portion of the frame at 21 serves to hold the impres- 1 sum arm normally in elevated position.

Suitable clutch mechanism indicated generally at 22, 23, is associated with each of the ribbon spools, these clutch devices being adjustable so that one of the spools will be connected with the shaft 15 to turn therewith .while the other spool is free from said shaft Suitable guides 23 are mounted 7 arm or lever 31 which is pivoted to the underside of the table top at 32. The free end of this lever 31 is connected by a link 38 Witha hanger 34 extending down from the.

plate feed slide. The links 30 and 33 may be provided in a simple manner by the use of strap metal, and in thecase of link 33 a plain strip of metal is employed, having ends turned up at 35 and in position to abut against the steps or buffers 36, 37 mounted on the underside of the table and preferably the buffer 8.6 is mounted on the end wall of the plate receiver 9. It will benoticed that the pivot 24 of the plate feed operating lever 24 is arranged axially'at right angles to the axis of the impression arm and consequently this lever swings in a planeat right anglesitothe plane of movement of the im pression arm but in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of the reciprocatory plate feeder, and it will be noticed also that this plate feed hand lever is arranged to one side of the planeof movement of the plate feed and ata point in front of the same. It may be conveniently operated by the left hand of the attendant and by a natural downward movement of the attendants hand.

By reason of this relation of the hand operated lever 24 for moving the plate feeder, the described intermediate connections are employed for transmitting the movement of the hand lever to the plate feeder, this connection comprising the arm or lever 31 extending in a general direction transverse to the plane of movement of the lever 24 and connected by substantially parallel links 30, 83 respectively with the hand lever and with the plate feeder, the point of connection for the link 30 being near the pivot of the lever arm 31, while the connection t0 the link for giving the plate feeder a sufficient stroke is at the outer end ofsaid lever. By reason of this relation of the parts a comparatively short movement of the hand lever 24 will effect a considerable movement of the link and plate feed slide. The plate feed mechanism just described is retracted by a spring 38, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is desirable ina hand operated machine of the character described to reduce the weight and extent of the apparatus so that it may be readily moved from place to place and will occupy comparatively little room. With this object in view, it will be observed that the receptacle 9 for the discharged or used plates is located within the main body of the frame and is in the nature of an insert portion relative to said frame. The receptacle is provided by casting a box-like structure in the main portion of the frame, said box having an opening 9 in its bottom portion to allow the finger of the operator to engage the plates stored in said receiver. Further, it will be noted that the receiver is arranged partly under the rearwardly extending portion of the ribbon so that virtually the presence of a receiver on the left hand side of the main frame adds no extension to said frame beyond that portion which is employed as a support or guide for the rearwardly extending portion of the ribbon. This materially reduces the length of the frame or table. The receiver is provided with a guard or flap 40 which is pivotally mounted at 41 to the side of the table and is under tension of a spring 42 which keeps said flap in the normal position of Fig. 1, so as to act as a stop for the used or ejected plates to arrest their movement and cause them to be deposited in the pocket or receiver. This flap being pivotally mounted will yield when the operator grasps a number of the plates and withdraws them from the receiver by a movement toward the left, in Fig. 1. The flap occupies only a portion of the width of the receiver so that the operator may readily insert his fingers into the receiver to grasp the plates.

In order to provide means whereby a date line or other matter may be printed on the articles or forms at the same time that the matter contained on the printing plates is impressed on the forms or sheets, I employ a supplemental impression head 43 which may be attached to the impression arm or frame by screws 44. These screws extend through the arms of the frame and in order to accurately adjust the supplemental impression head to the proper level, I provide set screws or stop screws 45, which are set in the supplemental impression head and bear against the under side of the arms of the impression head. The impression head consists of a main plate 43 and the pad carrying plate 46, which is provided with a rib 47 seated in a groove on the underside of the plate 43, screws 47' being provided to adjust the pad plate in relation to the impression surface. The pad itself, indicated at 48, is of rubber or other suitable impression material and is seated in the plate46. This pad plate may be secured at any desired point along the main plate 43 in accordance with the point on the form or sheet that receives the date line or other matter to be impressed. The plate 43 ma v be lightened by reducing its main portion as to width and at the end opposite that at which the pad plate is located, the said main plate 43 may be provided with a head or cross piece 43* under the arm of the impression frame to receive the holding and adjusting screws.

It will be seen that the supplemental impression head is arranged at a point to one side of the main impression head and t t-W4 in the particular arrangement shown it is arranged at a point nearer the pivoted end of the impression arm or frame than the main head, and thus when the impression frame 0r arm is moved downwardly the supplemental impression head will overlie the table at a point to one side of therunway for the printing plates. At this point a supplemental printing member or plate is arranged, indicated at 49, and over this extends a supplemental inking ribbon 50. This ribbon is wound on the same spools as the main ribbon and it extends parallel with the main ribbon or with that portion thereof which extends along the runway. This supplemental ribbon at its sides or ends is turned at the points 51 by means of an in clined guide bar or plate52, and it extends thence over the main ribbon through an opening 53 in the table and the ends are wound upon the same spools with the main ribbon. This supplemental ribbon may be of a different color from-the main ribbon or it may be of the same color. It will be fed like the main ribbon at each action of the impression arm by the turning of the spool from the operation of said impression arm. The supplemental printing member or plate 49 may be of various forms and may be held in various ways, but as a simple construction and arrangement for holding this plate in place, I form the plate of thin sheet metal or zinc with a downwardly extending lip or edge 49 which fits in a crevice or slot formed in the table or rather formed between the edge 54 of the table and the edge of a plate or guard 55, forming one side of the runway for the printing plates and under which plate a depressed margin of the printing plate moves and is held, The supplemental printing plate or member is embossed with the type or characters to be impressed and it is placed in position simply by dropping its edge into the crevice or slot mentioned, and then act justing it longitudinally of the guard plate to the proper position for making the supplemental impression. It will be seen from the organization described that the date line or other supplemental impression may be made simultaneously with the main impression made from the indivic iual printing plates.

I claim:

1. In a printing apparatus, a table, an im-.

of the plate feeder, and a connection from said'hand operable lever to the plate feeder, substantially as described,

2. In a printing apparatus, a table, an impression arm pivotally mounted at the rear part of the table and having an impression head and handle at its free end, a feeder for individual printing plates moving in a direc tion transverse to the plane of movement of the impression arm, a hand operable lever pivotally mounted and swinging in a vertical plane and in a direction transverse to the plane of movement of the impression arm, and parallel with the direction of movement of the plate feeder, and a connection from said hand operable lever to the plate feeder, said connection including an arm pivoting about a vertical axis and extending in a general direction transverse to the direction of movement'of the plate feeder and links connecting said arm with the plate feeder and hand lever respectively, substantially as described.

3. In a printing apparatus, a table, an impression arm pivotally mounted at the rear part of the table and having an impression headaud handle at its free end, afeeder for individual printing plates moving in a direction transverse to the plane of movement of the impression arm, a hand operable lever pivotally mounted and swinging in a vertical plane and in a direction transverse to the plane of movement of the impression arm, and parallel withthe direction of movement ofthe plate feeder, and a connection from said hand operable lever to the plate feeder, .said hand operable lever being mountedat the left hand side of the table and at the left of the plane of movement of the impression arm, substantially as described.

4:. In a printing apparatus, aytable, an impression arm pivotally mounted at the rear g part of the table and having an impression head and handle at its free end, a feeder for individual printing plates moving in a direction transverse to the, plane of movement of the impression arm, a handoperable lever pivotally mounted and swinging in a vertical plane and in a direction transverse to arm, and parallel with the direction of I movement of the plate feeder, and a, connection from said hand operable lever to the plate feeder, said connectlon including an arm pivoting about a vertical axis and extending in a general direction transverse to the direction of movement of the plate feeder and links connecting said arm and the plate feeder and hand lever respectively, the link extending to the hand lever'being connected closer to the pivot ofthe arm than the link extending to the plate feeder, substantially. as described.

5. In a printing apparatus, a table, an impression arm pivotallymounted at the rear part of the table and having an impression head and handle at itsfree end, a feeder for individual printing plates moving in a direction transverse to the plane of movement of the impression arm, a hand operable lever pivotally mounted andswinging in a vertical plane and in a direction transverse to the plane of movement of the impression arm, and parallel with the direction of movement of the plate feeder, and a connection from said hand operable lever to the plate feeder, said connection including an arm pivoting abouta vertical axis and extending in a'general direction transverse to the direction ofmovement ofthe plate feeder and links connecting said arm 7 and the plate feeder and hand lever respectively, the link connected with theplate feeder consisting of a strip of metal having its ends turned vertically and buffers'on the frame with which said ends engage, substantially as described.

6. In combination in a printing apparatus, a table, a hand operated impression arm pivotally' mounted at the rear of said table, a

runway for printing plates extending in a direction transverse tothe plane'of movement of the-impression arm, an inking ribbon extending lengthwise of the runway at the impression point and thence rearwardly at its ends, ribbon spools and means for operating the same from the impression arm, a hopperfor printing plates arranged at one end of the runway, a receiver for printing plates arranged at the other end of the runway, saidreceiver being located partly under the turned portion of the inking ribbon.

7. In combination in a printing apparatus, a table, a hand operated impression arm pivotally mountedat the rear of said table, a runway for printing plates extending in a direction transverse to the plane of move ment of the impression arm, an inking ribbon extending lengthwise of the runway at the impression point and thence rearwardly at its ends, ribbon spools and means for operating the same from the'impression arm, a hopper for printing plates arranged at one end of the runway, a receiver for printing plates arranged at the other end of the runway, said receiver being located partly under the turned portion of the ink ing ribbon, and wholly withintheboundary of the main part of the table, substantially as described, V v p 8. In combination a table, an impression arm pivoted thereto, a plate feeder and a receiver for the plates having an open bottom portion, and an open top and a spring pressed hinged flap for partially closing the side of said receiver, substantially as described.

9. In an addressing machine, individual printing plates, means for moving said printing plates to the impression point and away therefrom, an impression member movable to and from said impression point, an inking ribbon extending over the impression point, a supplemental impression member arranged to one side of the path way of the individual printing plates, said impression member having an impression surface to cooperate with said supplemental printing member, an inking ribbon extending over the supplemental printing member and mean for feeding the main and supplemental inking ribbons between impressions, substantially as described.

10. In combination in av printing apparatus, a table, a runway in. said table for individual printing plates, an impression member, means for feeding the individual printing plates to the impression point and away therefrom, an inking ribbon extending over the impression point, a supplemental printing member adj ustably mounted on the table, an inking ribbon for said impression member, the said impression member having an impression surface to cooperate both with the individual printing plates and with the supplemental printing member, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a printing apparatus, a table, means for feeding individual printing plates along said table, an impression member, an inking ribbon, a supplemental printing plate having a turned edge, said table having an opening to receive said turned edge and having a surface to support the main body of the supplemental impression. member and an inking ribbon for said supplemental impression member, substantially as described.

12. In combination in a Jrinting apparatus, a table,n1eans for fee ing individual printing plates along said table, an impression member, an inking ribbon, a supplemental printiug plate having a turned edge, said table having an opening to receive said turned edge and having a surface to support the main body of the supplemental impression member and an inking ribbon for said supplemental. impression member, said opening being of elongated form for the placing of the supplemental printing member in different positions, substantially as described.

18, In combination in a printing apparatus, a table having a runway, individual printing plates, means for moving said printing plates along the runway, a guard rail overhanging a portion of the runway to hold the plates in said runway, an impression member, a supplemental printing member adapted to rest on the said guard plate, the said supplemental printing member having a depressed portion engaging the said guard rail to be held thereby in proper position, substantially as described.

14. In combination in a printing apparatus, a table having a runway, individual emma printing plates, means for moving said printing plates along the runway, a guard rail overhanging a portion of the runway to hold the plates in said runway, an impression member, a supplemental printing member adapted to rest on the said guard plate, the said supplemental printing member having a depressed portion engaging the said guard rail to be held thereby in proper position, the said table having an edge adjacent to but spaced apart'from the edge of the guard rail to receive the depressed portion of the supplemental printing member, substantially as described.

15. In combination in a printing appa ratus, a table having a runway, individual printing plates adapted to fit said runway, means for feeding the plates along said runway, an impression member movable to and from the impression point at said runway, a supplemental printing member arranged to one side of the runway and inking ribbon means cooperating both with the printing plate and the supplemental printing member to make simultaneously a main and a supplemental impression, substantially as described.

16. In combination in. a printing apparatus, a table having a runway for individual printing plates, an impression arm or frame movable to and from said runway, means for feeding printing plates along said runway, a main impression head carried by the impression member, a supplemental impression head, a plate with means for holding said impression head adjustably in relation to the plate, screws connecting the plate with the impression member and adjusting screws for leveling up the said plate in relation to the impression member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

ALEXANDER B. LYLE.

flopiea of this patent may he obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

